This story, in many ways, was told better in the 1930s novel and I think it could be told better in a latter era outside of the 1950s Pollyanna-like philosophy.
The special effects are still pretty damn amazing, even by today’s standards, so I find it immensely watchable.
There are also some fantastically directed moments that I think elevate the story above the typical 1950s scifi film.
When Worlds Collide
Planets destroy earth!
Rating
3.0 (1)
Release Date
9/14/1951Runtime
83 minsGenres
Overview
When a group of astronomers calculate a star is on a course to slam into Earth, a few days before, it's accompanying planet will first pass close enough to the Earth to cause havoc on land and sea. They set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the planet.
Status
ReleasedOriginal Language
EnglishBudget
$936,000Revenue
$1,600,000Homepage
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How It Feels
Read from this film's synopsis, keywords and credits, and used to work out what it sits beside.
A spectacular race against planetary annihilation, where humanity's last hope hinges on engineering and nerve. It's a film of breathtaking disaster spectacle shot through with the existential weight of an ending world.
Mood
Dread-soakedTenseBleakDefiant
Themes
SurvivalTechnologyNatureComing apart
Tone
Earnest
Pacing
Propulsive
Look
Widescreen epicPractical effects
Structure
Linear
Heads up
Graphic violence
Richard Derr
David Randall
Barbara Rush
Joyce Hendron
Peter Hansen
Dr. Tony Drake
John Hoyt
Sydney Stanton
Larry Keating
Dr. Cole Hendron
Rachel Ames
Julie Cummings
Stephen Chase
Dr. George Frye
Frank Cady
Harold Ferris
Hayden Rorke
Dr. Emery Bronson
Sandro Giglio
Dr. Ottinger
Kirk Alyn
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
James Congdon
Eddie Garson (uncredited)
Reviews
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